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Original poster

Better to be bottom of top group or top of next group in science?

34 replies

Iamnotminterested · 20/05/2013 13:11

Thoughts welcome. I know that DD is working at the level of the middle/bottom third of the top group in science in year 7 (because they all discuss it, don't they? :-) ) but is in the second group. What would be the advantages/disadvantages of staying put and to be in the top % in her current group versus moving up?

OP posts:
boardingschoolbaby · 20/05/2013 14:08

As a science teacher I would say you need to base it on the individual student- some work much better with the "challenge" of being at the bottom, others need the confidence boost of being at the top of the next group in order to do their best and would give up if they were constantly chasing the rest of the set.
I would talk it through with your son and his teacher to see what might be best (if you have the flexibility to choose)

eatyourveg · 20/05/2013 14:05

I've done it this year for ds3. It meant sacrificing the triple for the double but I would rather he get a 2 Bs or even a B and a C in the double than 3 Ds or lower in the triple and he's not a natural scientist anyway.

Do ask what exam the second group do before moving as the criteria for science A levels is often the triple

bettycoast · 20/05/2013 13:47

Putting the question of what subjects it will allow her to study to one side, DD1 would perform better at the top of group 2, and DD2 better at the mid/bottom of group 1. So to do with how the child responds to placement too. In this family anyway.

Original poster
Iamnotminterested · 20/05/2013 13:35

No parent's evening now until year 8.

Don't know about any more tests this academic year.

The idea is being discussed at present.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 20/05/2013 13:33

That's what I was wondering TOSN Confused

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 20/05/2013 13:20

Are you being offered the choice, OP?

scaevola · 20/05/2013 13:20

If there is significant overlap between the standards of the sets (and children don't divide themselves tidily into 30s or whatever class size), then they are likely to be covering the same topics. So it dosn't really matter. Will you have a chance,may at a parents evening, to ask about whether there is much difference?

But if say, only the top set will be given the chance for single sciences when they come to make GCSE choices, and if your DD is sure she wants to do that, then yes try to get her moved up. If however there are many children at this level split between the two sets, your best chance is for DD to work in a way that shows she really is securly performing at a higher level than everyone else in 2nd set.

Are they about to have exams, and will they all sit the same paper.

Branleuse · 20/05/2013 13:17

bottom of top set

wordfactory · 20/05/2013 13:16

Some schools only allow the top set to take triple science, so that may be worth checking out.